Signal apparatus



April 9, 1940. w BQLLING 2,196,545

SIGNAL APPARATUS Filed June 7, 19:7

llllllll-llll'lllIIIIIH m @aj ATTORNEYS Patented Apr 9-, 1,940

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to signal apparatus and has for an object to provide apparatus for controlling and indicating the movement of safety doors employed in mines and other places.

A further object of the invention is to provide visible means indicative of a clear and also of an obstructed passage, a switch for the independent operation of said means and including an operating arm, which when in position to cause the switch to operate the clear passage indicating means, serves as a door holder, and when in position to operate the obstructed passage indicating means, serves as a door release.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing forming part or" this specification,

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of a mine passage showing the track and showing a safety door held in unobstructing position with relation to the track by the operating arm of a switch which closes a circuit to a distinctive colored lamp when in door holding position.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrowheads.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the door and switch with a portion of the track shown in plan.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view showing the electrical connections of the signal lamps and the switch.

Referring now to the drawing in which like characters of reference designate similar parts in the various views, In designates a track, H upright timbers, l2 cross sills and i3 longitudinal timbers of a mine passage l4 through which conveying cars are moved in the conventional manner.

For denoting an obstructed passage a safety door [5 is hinged as shown at It to one of the uprights II and in obstructed passage indicating position, extends transversely across the track. In clear passage indicating position the door is held back from the side of the track as shown in Figure 3 by means of a combined latch and switch operating arm I! formed of insulating material.

The switch operating arm is pivoted to swing to a horizontal and to a vertical circuit closing position on a pivot pin I8, secured to an upright II. A conductor bar I9 is fixed to the rear face of the arm, as best shown in Figure 3, and is sufficient in length to bridge an annular series of switch contacts as shown in Figure 1. A pair of these contacts 2%, are arranged to be bridged by the bar when the arm is rocked to the horizontal door holding position, and the other pair 2| of these contacts are arranged to be bridged by the bar when the arm is in vertical door releasing position.

The contacts'are mounted upon a panel 22 of insulating material which is secured to the upright i I, as best shown in Figure 3.

A pair of signal lamps 23 and 24, best shown in Figure 2, are secured to the cross sill l2, and

these lamps are of distinctive colors, one for example being red to form visual means indicative of an obstructed passage when energized and the other, for example, being clear to provide visual means indicative of a clear passage.

In wiring the device the contacts 20 are electric-ally connected to the bright light 23 and to the current supply wire 25 by conductors 26, 21, 2B and 29, as shown in Figure 4. A ground contact 30 is disposed on the insulating panel 22 at the center of the bar 19 so that when the arm is in horizontal position to hold the door in unobstructing position the bright light will be energized.

The contacts 2| are connected to the current supply wire by conductor wires 3|, 32 and the before mentioned wire 25, as also best shown in Figure 4. When the operating arm I! is in vertical position, that is, in door releasing position, the contacts 2| will be bridged by the bar I9 and the red signal lamp 24 will be energized through closing of the circuit just traced and will form visual means indicative of an obstructed passage.

From the above description it is thought that the construction and operation of the invention will be fully understood without further explanation.

What is claimed is.

In signal apparatus for mines and other passages, a base plate of insulating material adapted position, a conductor bar on the rear face of the switch arm, said switch arm being adapted to be swung to a vertical circuit closing position and to a horizontal circuit closing position on said I base plate, a pair of stationary switch contacts on said base plate adapted to be bridged by said conductor bar when the switch arm is swung to WATSON E. BOLLING. 

